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Ruling delivers devastating blow to belly, long putters

Associated Press

This 2011 photo shows a belly putter in the hands of Phil Mickelson as he attempts a birdie putt at the Deutsche Bank Championship tournament in Norton, Mass. Long putters and belly putters are expected to banned by the USGA and the R&A.

"I think the decision they're going to make is fantastic," said two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North of Madison. "The USGA and R&A have believed for 600 years that you have to make a stroke or a swing. That has changed the last few years with anchoring.

"Anybody who says it doesn't make a difference, they're nuts."

Once considered a crutch for older golfers who lost their nerve on the greens or had back problems, long putters have surged in popularity in recent years even among younger golfers.

Golfers using belly putters have won three of the last five major championships: Keegan Bradley at the 2011 PGA, Webb Simpson at the 2012 U.S. Open and Ernie Els at the 2012 British Open.

Earlier this month, 14-year-old Guan Tianlang of China used a belly putter to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur, thereby earning an invitation to the 2013 Masters. He has never used a traditional putter.

The belly putter is anchored to the stomach during the putt; the long putter is anchored to the chest. Many believe the act of anchoring the club to the body creates something other than a golf "swing" or stroke.

"It goes away from the traditional stroke, with the hands moving freely in all directions," said Tom Schmidt, retired executive director of the Wisconsin State Golf Association.

If a rule banning anchoring is proposed by the USGA and the R&A - which administers the game outside of the U.S. and Mexico - it likely would not go into effect until 2016, when the Rules of Golf could next be updated.

That would give players using long putters and equipment companies making and selling them time to adjust.

"I just can't imagine they are making a blanket change immediately," said Bill Linneman, director of rules and competitions for the WSGA.

Rocco Mediate, who has had back problems, became the first player to win a PGA Tour event using a long putter in 1991. Paul Azinger was the first to win with a belly putter in 2000.

Els had been an outspoken critic of long putters. In 2004, he suggested players who had trouble controlling their nerves on the greens should "take a tablet." But he grudgingly turned to a belly putter after developing his own putting problems and joked, "as long as they allow it, I'll keep cheating."

Major champions Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Vijay Singh are among those who have used belly putters, and Adam Scott resurrected his career after switching to the long putter.

Should a ban be implemented, many professionals have made it clear they would seek legal counsel to protect their right to choose their preferred tools of the trade.

"If the state of Wisconsin changes the speed limit from 65 to 55, do you have the right to sue them?" North said. "It's a ruling body making a ruling.

"I think the USGA and R&A are taking the stance that if people want to sue us, go ahead and sue us. This has nothing to do with taking away anybody's rights. You still have your job.

The question that remains unanswered is whether long putters actually provide an advantage over traditional putters.

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell said earlier this year that USGA executive director Mike Davis had evidence to prove long putters do make a difference.

Said North, "I think skill is a very big part of the game. It changes when you use anchoring."

The PGA Tour and European Tour have always followed the rules as written by the USGA and the R&A.

Though recreational golfers routinely break the rules by taking mulligans, conceding putts and ignoring the stroke-and-distance penalty for out of bounds, they are loathe to use non-conforming equipment.

Does that mean long putters and belly putters soon will vanish from the golfing landscape?

"I just can't picture the USGA making a rule prohibiting anchoring that would apply to every single player," Linneman said. "I'd be stunned that they would make a rule that would make the game less enjoyable for players at a time when golf is shrinking."

One thing is certain. Whatever the USGA and R&A announce regarding anchoring will set the golf world abuzz.

"I don't think it's the end of the debate," said Rob Jansen, the current WSGA executive director. "I think it's just the beginning."

About Gary D'Amato

Gary D'Amato covers golf and the Olympic Games and writes about a variety of other sports. He has won numerous writing awards from the Golf Writers Association of America, the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Milwaukee Press Club.